Dolly was born in July 1910, in a railway cottage near Alfreton, Derbyshire, the second of four children. She lived at Beckitt Close in Derby for more than 30 years and saw in her 107th birthday there, surrounded by friends, family and neighbours.

A lifelong supporter of Derby County Football Club, Dolly was treated to a visit from three ex-players for her birthday – Roy McFarland, Roger Davies and Kevin Hector – who presented her with a personalised shirt and tickets to watch a match in one of the ground’s dedicated boxes.

Our sincerest condolences to Dolly’s family, who are in our thoughts at this time.

Dolly is survived by her son Michael Ratcliffe, four grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. She will be missed dearly by all who had the privilege to know her.

]]>12603https://www.derwentliving.com/news/sadness-at-the-passing-of-derwent-living-resident-dolly/Get yourself coveredhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/wRpvOBtGn_c/
Tue, 06 Mar 2018 12:17:46 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12577It’s been estimated that around three million families living in housing association properties in the UK don’t have even the most basic home contents insurance.

Should the worst happen, those without cover would find it very difficult to replace their possessions.

Our teams speak to dozens of customers each year who simply can’t afford to replace their belongings following an accident, fire or flood.

In many cases, people think that Derwent Living will cover the cost of replacing everyday essentials like appliances, furniture, and clothing but that isn’t the case. Derwent Living only covers damage to the building, not the contents within. That’s why it’s so important to get the right cover.

Think of it this way: try to add up how much you think everything in your house is worth. Would you be able to replace it all, if it was all destroyed in a fire?

How would you replace your household belongings if they were lost, damaged or stolen?

We always suggest that people compare prices with different insurers, but to help residents get good quality contents insurance we also have a partnership with Thistle Insurance Services to offer an affordable option.

Many people think that insurance can be expensive, but premiums start from as little as £3.06 a month. You don’t even need a bank account to sign up to the plan, although payment options such as direct debit are available.

But remember: it’s always worth comparing prices with other contents insurance providers, so that you can get the best and most suitable deal for your needs. Don’t take risks – make sure you’re covered for the worst.

]]>12577https://www.derwentliving.com/news/get-yourself-covered/Volunteering opportunities with Derwent Livinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/T2xrBAS6ILo/
Mon, 05 Mar 2018 11:53:13 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12550Derwent Living is on the lookout for passionate individuals with an eye for detail to join our force of customer volunteers!

Green Inspectors monitor the landscaping services provided by Derwent Living

We need both Green Inspectors and Clean Inspectors to carry out monthly reviews of services carried out in your area by our contractors.

You will be given a template to record your feedback and this is passed back to us, so that we can action any recommendations.

There is one of each of these roles available at all schemes, unless there is already a Green Inspector and a Clean Inspector operating in your area.

It’s so simple and rewarding, and by doing this you can help us to monitor and improve the services we provide. If you’re currently on the hunt for a job, it’s a great addition to your CV.

If getting involved sounds like something that would be of interest to you, or you would like more information, please speak to a member of the customer engagement team on 01332 346 477 or email getinvolved@derwentliving.com

]]>12550https://www.derwentliving.com/news/volunteering-opportunities-with-derwent-living/No pressurehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/SXbEYPspqq4/
Fri, 02 Mar 2018 11:15:49 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12567Not all faults that occur around the home require an engineer visit: sometimes they are minor problems that can be solved with a little know-how.

Did you know that you can sometimes determine what is wrong with the boiler by the fault code displayed on the screen? As an example, Vaillant boilers often display the code *F22 – this means there is low water pressure in the boiler.

Losing water pressure is a common fault with boilers; this will affect your central heating and hot water. It often occurs when you have recently bled your radiators. This is something you can rectify yourself using a device called a filling loop. This may be hidden behind a cover on the boiler or sometimes it can be found left loose on top of the boiler.

The ideal pressure for a boiler is usually between 1 and 1.5 ‘bar’, so if your boiler’s pressure is below this level this could be causing the fault. Your boiler user manual will advise you exactly how to top up the pressure or you can give us a call on 01332 346 477 and we would be happy to talk you through this over the phone.

Typically, you would connect the filling loop to the pipes underneath the boiler and then open one of the pressure taps fully. You then open the second tap slowly and you will hear water going into the boiler.

As soon as the pressure reaches the desired level close both of the taps. Your boiler should then work, although you may have to reset it first.

If you do identify any leaks while doing this, please call the Derwent Living repairs helpline on 01332 346 477 (option 1)or theemergency out-of-hours repairsteam on 0116 257 6727.

*Always refer to the user manual for your boiler in the first instance, as the error codes may differ.

]]>12567https://www.derwentliving.com/news/no-pressure/Gritting – what will Derwent Living do?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/uldoDHy4sP4/
Fri, 08 Dec 2017 15:40:43 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12461While Derwent Living would love to be able to keep every path and road on our sites free of snow, it just isn’t reasonably practical.

Instead, we prioritise high risk areas and try to make sure that main footpaths, especially those to areas such as car parks and bin stores, are kept clear. “High risk” means places such as retirement living sites, or sites with steep paths.

Ensuring all walkways are kept free of ice or snow at all times, even on routes identified as priority, is a huge challenge.

On retirement living sites with communal areas, main paths will be treated but not paths to individual houses. Foot paths on high risk schemes are gritted and/or cleared of snow in descending order of priority.

On sites with steep gradients Derwent Living provides gritting bins for residents to use.

On all other sites action will be taken if a manager or housing officer identifies a site with steep gradients. We will then attempt to provide grit bins at strategic locations which residents can use if they wish to.

All gritting and the provision of grit bins will be subject to supply of gritting materials and weather conditions.

]]>12461https://www.derwentliving.com/news/gritting-what-will-derwent-living-do/Christmas food safety – don’t be a turkey!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/7lbKW31v0VM/
Wed, 06 Dec 2017 15:29:47 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12438The last thing any of us want is to fall ill over Christmas, especially if it could have been avoided by taking extra care when prepping and cooking your Christmas turkey.

Defrosting

Past research by the Food Standards Agency shows that nearly 70% of Brits don’t defrost the turkey in the fridge.

This can make your turkey a breeding ground for bacteria, so you should always defrost in the fridge if possible. Make sure you place the bird on the lowest shelf, to prevent juices leaking and causing cross-contamination with other foods.

Defrosting will take a different amount of time depending on how big your bird is, for example a 6kg bird can take three days when thawing in the fridge.

Always make sure you give it plenty of time to defrost, because if your turkey has ice through the core then it will not cook properly in the oven.

Always follow defrosting instructions on the packaging. Don’t try to thaw your turkey quickly using shortcuts like submerging in warm water or using a hairdryer – these will increase your risk of food poisoning dramatically.

Prepping

Don’t make the mistake of washing the turkey in the sink, as this does not get rid of any bacteria: in fact, it spreads it! You should wash your hands with soap and warm water before you begin preparing the turkey (or any food). And of course, wash them thoroughly afterwards. Do not wipe your hands on a towel instead – this will spread bacteria.

You should always use one chopping board for your raw meat and one for your other ingredients, such as vegetables. If you don’t have more than one board, you should wash it after use in hot, soapy water.

You can use a watered-down bleach solution to disinfect it then, once washed, pat dry with paper towels which you can dispose of. The same goes for utensils or other items, such as plates that have been used to defrost raw meat.

Cooking

Your turkey will take a thousand hours to cook, but it will be worth it!

The packaging will almost always have instructions on how to cook your turkey, calculated by the weight of the bird. It’s a good idea to give yourself a little extra time to cook your turkey, as it will need to cool slightly before being carved anyway.

There should be no pink meat and it should be steaming hot with clear juices running from it.

The best way to ensure your turkey is cooked all the way through is to invest in a food thermometer. This should be used on the thickest part of the bird and the temperature needs to show 74C before you carve it up to serve. This includes anything you have stuffed the turkey with, as it’s been in contact with the raw meat.

And remember: it’s better for dinner to be served late than to be remembered as the person who poisoned their guests at Christmas dinner!

Leftovers

Any leftovers should be left to cool, then covered and placed in the fridge within 1-2 hours. You could even make extra meals and freeze the lot – even turkey is okay to freeze! Anything in the fridge should be eaten within 48 hours and anything that you have frozen, within 24 hours of defrosting.

Make sure that you defrost any frozen leftovers in the fridge thoroughly and reheat until steaming hot. Don’t take any chances with leftovers – if you think it is past its best, throw it away.

Image 1: flickr.com/usdagov

Image 2: flickr.com/laurenbeth

]]>12438https://www.derwentliving.com/blog/christmas-food-safety-dont-be-a-turkey/Alison Moore: A Life in Bookshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/_3AxtdMg4Ck/
Thu, 30 Nov 2017 11:17:34 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12411It was back in 2009 when Leicestershire-based author Alison Moore got her first big break.

Alison Moore at home in Wymeswold

One of her stories was shortlisted for the Manchester Fiction Prize, a nomination that would garner the attention of editor and publisher Nicholas Royle.

Royle picked up The Lighthouse, which would become Alison’s first full length novel and earned her a place on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize in 2012.

“I’d had short stories published before, but those were mainly seen by people who didn’t know me, so I could keep it private. However, when the Man Booker Prize nomination came through, there was suddenly a bit of a spotlight turned in my direction, and that was unexpected,” she said.

“It was incredibly exciting and completely unreal – it was difficult to take it on board at the time! I feel extremely lucky to have had that boost, as it’s enabled me to make a living as a writer ever since.”

A change of pace

Since The Lighthouse shot her to fame, life is a lot different for Alison. “Previously I did a lot of admin work for arts and education organisations while I had the odd short story published.

Alison’s breakout novel, The Lighthouse

I worked as a PA for most of my thirties, until I had a baby.

“Now I walk my son to school each morning, and then I start work. I’ll check my emails, do some admin and get my head straight, and then plunge into whatever is my priority that day. At the moment I’m making the final edits to my new novel, Missing, and my first children’s book, Sunny and the Ghosts, so there’s a lot going on.”

The shift from adult books to writing for children was inspired by her relationship with her son.

“Reading so much with my son, it was tempting to try to write something for his age. When he was 7, the idea for Sunny and the Ghosts came to me quite suddenly and I wrote it fairly quickly.

“It didn’t seem like a hugely different undertaking really – Nick (my agent and editor) said it was recognisably my work but with a U certificate.”

Location, location, location

Born in Manchester, Alison spent most of her childhood growing up in Loughborough. She credits her experience of living in the Midlands as being a big influence.

“I find that it often crops up in my writing. Sometimes I’ve made use of the landscape and local landmarks, and sometimes it’s more about the idea of the Midlands and what it suggests – being in the middle, far from the sea – a bit like the Scottish Borders, which also appeals to me as a writer.”

Alison uses her travel experiences to influence her writing

When it comes to her love of writing, Alison started young and says she finds inspiration in her own life experiences.

“I’ve always enjoyed making up stories. I love reading, which is probably what inspired me to start writing myself.

“When I was eight, my mum encouraged me to submit something to a local writing competition. It was shortlisted and published in the competition anthology. I just kept going after that, writing and sending things off to competitions and magazines.

“Although my characters are fictional, they are usually based on personalities that are familiar to me or come from my own experiences.

“I also draw on places I’ve visited – in The Lighthouse I used a Rhineland walk I went on with my husband, Death and the Seaside is set in a fictional version of Seaton in Devon and my new novel, Missing, is set in Hawick in the Scottish Borders.

“These days I find inspiration anywhere, especially when I’m travelling – I once had a whole story come to me while I was driving to and from B&Q!”

Putting pen to paper

So what tips would Alison give for budding writers and for beating writers’ block?

“I’ve found writing magazines helpful – I still subscribe to one called Mslexia. My other top tip would be to edit very carefully before you start sending anything out. I suggest putting it away for a while and then coming back to it with ‘fresh eyes’.

“I’ve always enjoyed making up stories.”

“It’s also important to remember that rejection is part of the journey and every writer has experienced it, so don’t be disheartened.

“When it comes to writers’ block, I try to avoid it by always having lots of things on the boil at any one time, so there’s always something I’m desperate to get to work on and something else waiting its turn and so on.

“I only start writing when something’s ready to be written, bursting to come out, and I don’t try to force a certain number of words per day – I edit a lot as I go along.”

Alison has also been involved with a number of causes dedicated to improving literacy.

“Before I had my son, I used to volunteer with a literacy project in Nottingham. We formed a group and ran weekly sessions with themes and games.

“Then recently I supported a National Literacy Trust reading initiative and I became a patron for Nottingham City of Literature, which is committed to improving literacy across the city.”

What’s next?

Alison’s newest novel, Missing, will tell the story of a translator haunted by an incident from her past.

“Words can be enormously powerful or influential. Missing is all about communication and miscommunication, as a translator obsesses over which words she might choose. Whilst on the surface, it may not seem like a life or death decision, she definitely has cause to disagree.”

]]>12411https://www.derwentliving.com/magazine/alison-moore-a-life-in-books/Christmas on a shoestringhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/PPmkgFtdJbM/
Thu, 30 Nov 2017 11:02:27 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12402The pressure to make Christmas magical can feel overwhelming, but you don’t need to spend the earth at this time of year to still have a good time.

I’m a big fan of finding ways to have a great Christmas without spending lots of money, so here are some top tips for a thrifty festive season.

Letter from Santa

Writing a letter to Santa is a Christmas tradition for children all over the world.

If your little ones still believe in the big guy, then it’s definitely worth getting them a free letter from Santa (aka the Royal Mail). This one is a big hit with my nephew, who loves asking Santa about the weather in the North Pole and what the reindeer eat.

All it costs is a stamp – Santa’s elves will do the rest! Make sure that you include your child’s full name and address in the letter so Santa can write back to your little believer.

Send your letters by Friday 8 December to receive your reply.

Secret Santa

Why not follow the old tradition of Secret Santa? This is usually for work colleagues or friends, but it can be done with relatives too, if you have a large family like I do. Lots of nieces and nephews can start to set you back financially if you buy for everyone.

Instead, set a budget and draw names from a hat. This is a much cheaper alternative than buying individual presents and also saves you from hours of tedious wrapping!

Fish for an invite

Worried about the cost of Christmas dinner? The cheapest option is getting a cheeky invite to someone’s house! (Thanks Mum, your parsnips are the best.)

If that isn’t an option, you can get a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (minus Brussel sprouts, bleurgh!) for less than £13. All you have to do is shop around a little. This is what I found when looking around for the best deals:

Remember, these prices could change but the general idea is that if you don’t limit yourself to just one store, you can have a great Christmas dinner without having to spend a fortune.

MSE Festive Fivers

I can’t recommend www.moneysavingexpert.com enough – it’s helped me switch energy accounts, taught me how to budget when I left home and showed me how to boost my income when I was unemployed.

And over Christmas, the site is fantastic for cheap gift ideas. Go to the website address above – using the search bar in the top right corner, type in “festive fivers”.

There are some great ideas here for presents, like the antique tea cup candle and the memory jar, and all cost less than £5.

Share your ideas

Make your own DIY baking kits for cheap Christmas gifts

If you have any more ideas for a cheap and cheerful Christmas, why not share them with other customers at my.derwentliving.com.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Don’t fall prey to credit

It’s far better to budget in advance for Christmas than to borrow. Christmas really is about spending time with your family; so enjoy a little turkey, curl up under a blanket and watch some Christmas movies.

Debt worries

Sadly, Christmas isn’t jolly for all and some of the things on this list will still be out of reach for many. If you have debt worries, you can get help by contacting any of the organisations below:

Never be afraid to ask for help: it’ll feel like having a weight lifted off your shoulders.

]]>12402https://www.derwentliving.com/blog/christmas-on-a-shoestring/Traditional Christmas pudding recipehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/XNDH2hCpsT0/
Thu, 16 Nov 2017 09:48:22 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12370Christmas puddings are generally made any time between September and the start of Advent.

This is because the pudding cannot be eaten immediately; it needs to be stored and rested, then reheated on Christmas Day.

Eating the pudding immediately after cooking will cause it to collapse, and the flavours will not have had time to mature.

What you will need

450g dried mixed fruit

25g mixed candied peel, finely chopped

1 small cooking apple, peeling, cored and finely chopped

Grated zest and juice of 1/2 large orange and 1/2 lemon

4 tbsp brandy, plus a little extra for soaking at the end

55g self-raising flour, sifted

1 level tsp ground mixed spice

11/2 tsp ground cinnamon

110g shredded suet, beef or vegetarian

110g soft, dark brown sugar

110g white fresh bread crumbs

25g whole shelled almonds, roughly chopped

2 large, fresh eggs

How to make it

Lightly butter a 1.4-litre pudding basin (2½ pint).

Place the dried fruits, candied peel, apple, orange and lemon juice into a large mixing bowl. Add the brandy and stir well. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave to marinate for a couple of hours, preferably overnight.

Stir together the flour, mixed spice, and cinnamon in a very large mixing bowl. Add the suet, sugar, lemon and orange zest, bread crumbs, nuts and stir again until all the ingredients are well mixed. Finally add the marinated dried fruits and stir again.

Beat the eggs lightly in a small bowl then stir quickly into the dry ingredients. The mixture should have a fairly soft consistency.

Now is the time to gather the family for Christmas Pudding tradition of taking turns in stirring, making a wish and adding a few coins.

Spoon the mixture into the greased pudding basin, gently pressing the mixture down with the back of a spoon. Cover with a double layer of greaseproof paper or baking parchment, then a layer of aluminum foil and tie securely with string.

Place the pudding in a steamer set over a saucepan of simmering water and steam the pudding for 7 hours. Make sure you check the water level frequently, so it never boils dry. The pudding should be a dark brown color when cooked. The pudding is not a light cake but instead is a dark, sticky and dense sponge.

Remove the pudding from the steamer, cool completely. Remove the paper, prick the pudding with a skewer and pour in a little extra brandy. Cover with fresh greaseproof paper and re-tie with string. Store in a cool, dry place until Christmas day.

On Christmas day reheat the pudding by steaming again for about an hour. Serve with Brandy or Rum Sauce, Brandy Butter or Custard. Leftover Christmas pudding can be reheated by wrapping tightly in aluminum foil and heating through in a hot oven.

]]>12370https://www.derwentliving.com/blog/traditional-christmas-pudding-recipe/Wrap up and switch onhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DerwentLiving/~3/eR6ISATAoxU/
Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:26:10 +0000https://www.derwentliving.com/?p=12338As the cold weather continues, we’re keen to make sure that people are doing everything possible to keep healthy, comfortable and safe this winter.

This article is about what you can do to keep yourself warm at home.

Switch on

Although most people will now have their heating on, we know that there are still many who, for financial reasons, are holding out as long as possible before switching on.

It’s critical that you begin to heat up your home and although it can seem unaffordable, it is the difference between staying healthy during the cold months or being seriously ill. There were an estimated 24,300 excess winter deaths in 2015/16 – this is where more deaths occur in the winter months than non-winter months.

Mould and condensation also make respiratory illnesses worse, and having your heating at a consistent temperature of at least 15C throughout your house will help tackle it.

If you’re struggling to pay for your heating and hot water, you could try switching to a cheaper energy provider. Read more on how to switch energy suppliers on the uSwitch website by clicking here.

If you are eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment but have not had it before, you will need to apply for it. You can find information about applying for the payment here.

And if you are on certain means-tested benefits, you may be eligible for the Warm Home Discount Scheme through your energy provider. You should contact your provider as soon as possible to find out whether or not you qualify.

Staying well

It’s not just turning the heating on that can help you stay healthy during the colder months. Here are some tips on staying warm and well over winter:

Draw your curtains as soon as it begins to get dark outside – but make sure that they do not cover any radiators.

Keep inside doors closed so that there are no draughts.

Wear layers, even inside the house.

Having regular hot drinks can help, which is a great excuse for a hot chocolate or three!

Eating regularly helps to keep your energy levels high in winter and if possible, eat at least one hot meal a day.

Keep active as much as you are able – recreating the hoovering scene from Queen’s “I Want To Break Free” video is a great example.

Keep your home at a minimum temperature of 15C but if possible, have it a little higher – around 18C.

If you are 65 or over, or have reduced mobility, be extra careful when leaving the house in bad weather. Ask yourself: Is that journey critical, or can it wait until the weather improves? Do you have a friend or relative who can do your food shopping for you, or can it be done online?